Ver. 22.—“ Let us draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
The duty is here expressed whereunto these encouragements and privileges do direct and lead. And this duty is described, 1. By the nature of it; “Let us draw near.” 2. The qualification of the persons by whom it is to be performed; “ With a true heart.” 3. The manner of its performance; “In full assurance of faith.” 4, The preparation for it: which is twofold; (1.) That “ our hearts be sprinkled from an evil conscience;” (2.) That “ our bodies be washed with pure water.”
1. The duty itself is expressed by wpocepywueda, the word whereby the whole performance of all divine, solemn worship was constantly expressed. For God having fixed the residence of the signs of his presence unto a certain place, namely, that of the tabernacle and altar, none could worship him but it was by an approach, an access, a drawing nigh unto that place, the means of their worship, and the pledges of God’s presence therein. So were they to bring their gifts, their offerings, their sacrifices; every thing wherewith they worshipped in it was an approximation unto God. Now all these things, tabernacle, temple, altar, as we
‘have showed, were types of Christ and the gracious presence of God in him; and they were appointed only unto this end, to teach the church to look for an access to God in and by him alone. Where- fore the apostle tells the Hebrews, that as they had under the old testament an approach unto God, and were then of spocepyéusvor, “those that came and drew nigh unto him,” yet it was defective in three things: (1.) That it was by carnal means, “ the blood of bulls and goats.” (2.) That it was not unto God himself, but only some outward pledges of his presence. (3.) That in this access they were always excluded from an entrance into the holiest. This way being now removed, there is that appointed in the room thereof which is liable to none of these defects. For, (1.) It is not by things carnal, but in a holy, spiritual way and manner, as the ensuing description of it doth manifest. (2.) It is not unto any outward pledges of the divine presence, but immediately unto God himself, even the Father. (3.) It is into the most holy place itself, the special residence of God, and of our high priest, Christ Jesus. Wherefore this drawing near containeth all the holy worship of the church, both public and private, all the ways of our access unto God by Christ. And the charge given for this duty is the first inference the apostle maketh
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510 AN EXPOSITION OF THE , [CHAP. x.
from the consideration of the benefits we receive by the priesthood and sacrifice of Christ.
2. The principal qualification of the persons exhorted unto this duty, is “a true heart.” God in an especial manner requireth “ truth in the inward ‘parts” in all that come unto him, Ps. li. 6. Especially he doth so in his worship, John iv. 24. Now truth respects either the mind, and is opposed unto falsehood; or respects the heart and affections, and is opposed to hypocrisy. In the first way all false worship is rejected, all means of the worship of God not of his own institution. But the truth of the heart here intended, is the sincerity of heart which is opposed unto all hypocrisy. Two things are therefore comprised in this qualification :—
Obs. IX. That the heart is that which God principally respects in our access unto him.—The Hebrews, in their degenerate condition, rested in the outward performance of duties: so as they made their access outwardly according to the institutions and directions of the law, they were regardless of themselves and of the inner man, and of the frame thereof. But it is the heart that God requires; and accordingly, that it be under the conduct of doctrinal truth in the light of the mind, and not only that it be true and free from hypocrisy in the acts of worship that it goes about, but also that in its habitual frame it be holy, and throughout leavened with sin- cerity. Thence it is denominated “a true heart.” If men be sin- cere in the acts of worship, but fail of it in point of walking and conversation, they will not be accepted in it.
Obs. X. Universal, internal sincerity of heart is required of all those that draw nigh unto God in his holy worship.—It is s0, (1.) From the nature of God; (2.) From the nature of the worship itself; (3.) From the conscience of the worshippers, which can have neither boldness nor confidence without it. What is required unto that sincerity, or “true heart,” without which we cannot freely draw nigh unto God in any duty of his worship, I cannot now declare,
aah ee There is the way and manner, together with the Qopla cis xia principle to be acted in all our accesses unto God: *E» Tews, arnpopopig rig wiorews,— In the full assurance of faith.”
(1.) “ Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Where- fore faith is required in this access on a twofold account: [1.] Of the qualification of the person. He must be a true believer who hath this access, all others are utterly excluded from it: [2.] Of its actual exercise in every particular duty of access. Abel by faith offered his sacrifice; and there is no duty acceptable unto God which is not quickened and enlivened by faith.